RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines football team took advantage of a late turnover Saturday to complete a rally and defeat the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys, 8-7. Saturday afternoon on a windy and brisk afternoon on Dunham Field at O'Harra Stadium in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The win is the second of the year for the Hardrockers and their first this season in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

The weather dictated the action most of the day as either team found it challenging to move the ball as strong winds were a constant for all four quarters that measured gusts up to 40 to 50 miles per hour at times.

After a scoreless first half, the Cowboys broke the stalemate, when James Budgett broke an 87 yard rush for touchdown with 7:10 to go in the third. Isreal Fanfan added the PAT to make it 7-0.

The Hardrocker got on the board toward the end of the third quarter when SD Mines blocked a punt on the 12 yard line. The ball bounced out the back of the Cowboys' end zone to record a safety.

In the fourth quarter, the Hardrockers defense made several stops and then came up with a huge fumble recovery at the end the game which set the offense up to score the winning touchdown. After an eight play 33 yard drive, Ian Anderson hauled in a five-yard TD reception from Toby Smith to give the 'Rockers the lead, 8-7, with 21 ticks left in the game. The two-point conversion was no good.